Sunday, May 30, 2010

COMMENT:With BLUEBIRD AR ABC is running full steam ahead in its campaign to indoctrinate its audience with the scourge of alarm and pessimism about potential future climate states. It seems the ABC is having such a hard time dealing with the real world (where recent scientific evidence shows the climate has a much lower sensitivity to CO2 than the IPCC would have us believe) that it has developed its own Alternate Reality where it can play out and sell its alarmist vision of Climate Armageddon: Bluebird centres on the science of geo-engineering "it is all about the need for a plan B - we need to be ready for the worst possible climate scenario."

Of course it's not the first time man has considered using engineering to improve the climate as the report below from early last century demonstrates. We wonder what the world would have been like if the Atlantic Jetty had been constructed.

If we may credit a deep-sea scientist, it will cost less than £38,000,000 to make Siberia a summer resort, start ice famines in Labrador, give Scotland an all-day summer with a temperature like Japan's, change the climate of the Atlantic coast to one like that of Southern California, molt all the ice on and around the North Pole, and open it to track gardening. To do so will be cheaper, much easier, and twice as quickly done as to build the PanamaCanal.

All that is necessary to accomplish these results, some of which would result from tipping the old earth sideways, is to build a rip-rap jetty about 200 miles long; across the shoals extending eastwards, from Newfoundland, near Cape Race, says the ''New York Herald."

That would stop the Labrador Current, whoso cold is capable of making 2,000,000 tons of ice every second, from running right into the Gulf Stream, whose heat is equal to the burning of 2,000,000 tons of coal every minute. They meet now on the Grand Banks, where the water is only about 25l feet deep. The Gulf Stream is split up, and spreads out over millions of square leagues of the Atlantic.

If such a jetty were built, the Labrador Current coming down from the Arcticwould be turned eastward, and would be sunk so far when the Gulf Stream met it that the latter warm, blue river of the ocean would pass over the great cold river from the North Pole. The warm Gulf Stream would continue in almost undiminished volume to the northward, and the Labrador Current would run a mile deep through the great depths of the Atlantic, making the torrid zone about the equator cooler, while the Gulf Stream would require only three months to melt every inch of ice around the pole.

Fantastic though this may appear, it has received the closest interest from the foremost men of practical science in the United States and other countries. Every detail of the astounding enterprise has been worked out by Mr. Carroll Livingston Riker, of Brooklyn, who has made critics swallow their scornful prophecies in other enterprises. He built the first mechanical refrigerating warehouse ever constructed, and devised and constructed the refrigerating plant on board the steamship Celtic, which carried to Liverpool the first cargo of American dressed meats everlanded there.

In the book "Power and Control of the Gulf Stream," just published by Mr. Riker, he discusses the problem of preserving to the universe the benevolent warmth of the Gulf Stream for the destruction of the sterilising cold of the Arctic.

Ocean currents, he recites control the distribution of tropical solar heat the waters heated about the equator bearing away toward the poles the heat there absorbed and modifying lands near which they run. The great warm flood of the Gulf Stream 40 miles in width and 1 200ft deep, with a temperature above 73 degrees Fahrenheit, is like a hot water pipe warming the Atlantic coast and adjoining legions as itflow northward.

The Labrador Current, 250 miles wide and 200ft deep, sweeps down from the Arctic with a temperature below zero Cent. (32deg. Fahr.). It meets and robs the Gulf Stream of its heat in the meeting on the Grand Bank. The shoal on the Great Bank where the cold and warm world arteries meet is a principal cause of their neutralisation of each others effects.

Mr Riker declares that the jetty would divert this meeting at great depths to the eastward of the Grand Bank, and by the time the Labrador Current was running there it would be taking a course with its heavy saline a file (mile?) below the surface permitting the warmer lighter and less saline Gulf Stream to sweep above it carrying a message of warmth and sunlight and fertility to the snow-.bound, ice-clad acres of the Polar Circle.

Even after its destructive conflict on the Grand Bank with the Labrador Current the Gulf Stream now survives and rolls onward giving to the British Isles mid Northern Europe the warmth

without which Scandinavia would be uninhabitable and England as sterile Labrador.

No more icebergs in the steamship lanes, no more of such fogs as now prevail about the meeting of the cold and warm currents, storms reduced to a minimum, and the whole of eastern North America a garden of paradise with no great cold or heat are some of the results Mr Riker foresees from building the jetty.

The melting of the Arctic ice cap, he estimates, would shift the equalizing balance of the globe, and the then preponderating weight of the Antarctic ice cap would make what I now the North Pole shift toward Northern Europe, with the result producing a night-less summer in the area of Scotland without a day-less winter.

The Nunavut government does not think the polar bear should be classified as a species of special concern under the federal Species at Risk Act, says territorial Environment Minister Daniel Shewchuk.

Shewchuk said there is no clear evidence to support assigning that status to the polar bear despite recommendations to the contrary by Environment Canada and a federal scientific panel.

"We live in polar bear country," Shewchuk told reporters in Iqaluit on Friday afternoon. "We understand the polar bears, and we do actually think our polar bear population is very very healthy, with the exception of a couple of populations that we are taking action on."

Thank you for your email regarding the ABC Science story 'Climate change impact on malaria questioned'.

Your concerns about this story have been investigated by Audience & Consumer Affairs. The story has been assessed against the applicable editorial standard, section 5.2.2(e) of the ABC's Editorial Policies (http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/edpols.htm), which states as follows:

"Be balanced. Balance will be sought but may not always be achieved within a single program or publication; it will be achieved as soon as reasonably practicable and in an appropriate manner. It is not essential to give all sides equal time. As far as possible, present principal relevant views on matters of importance."

The story reported on Professor Tony McMichael's criticisms of the recent Nature study 'Climate change and the global malaria recession'. In addition to the providing the views of Professor McMichael, the story summarised the study's findings and included the views of two of its authors, Dr Pete Gething and Dr Simon Hay.

While your references to the number of words in the story are noted, it is important to recognise that the editorial standard for balance does not require that an equal number of words be devoted to the views of each side in written stories. Instead, if possible, journalists are required to present the principal relevant views on matters of importance. In this case, the story presented the views of the authors of the study as well as the different views of a prominent Australian expert.

On review, Audience & Consumer Affairs is satisfied that the story adhered to section 5.2.2(e) of the Editorial Policies. Nonetheless, please be assured that your comments have been noted and conveyed to relevant staff in ABC Innovation.

I note your reference to a 2009 post on the blog 'Prometheus'. Audience & Consumer Affairs does not believe that criticism of Professor McMichael in a blog should preclude ABC journalists from reporting his expert views.

I also note your query regarding balance in a several recent ABC Science, ABC Environment and ABC News articles. Should have specific concerns about the adherence of one or more of these articles with the ABC's editorial standards, please outline them in further detail and we will be happy to consider them.

Thank you for taking the time to write.
Yours sincerely
ABC Audience & Consumer Affairs

Friday, May 28, 2010

COMMENT: Nothing on Auntie's news wire thus far about this BBC report that the Royal Society is to review its climate message...Society to review climate messageThe UK's Royal Society is reviewing its public statements on climate change after 43 Fellows complained that it had oversimplified its messages... follow the kink for the rest

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Update 27/5/2010: Authors of the Nature paper debunking the link between climate change and increased Malaria incidence provide commentary on New York Times Dot Earth blog "On the whole, the academic publications about climate and malaria are a perfect example of hype. Peer reviewed publications on warming and malaraia [sic] have almost universally argued that warming will increase the burden and extend future range of malaria."

COMMENT: ABC Science takes our advice and finally gets around to providing some coverage of week old revelations that future incidence of Malaria will not be as severe as suggested by alarming IPCC reports. Note the "balanced" reporting in this piece titled 'Climate change impact on malaria questioned' that actually provides readers with an indication there are dissenting views. However ABC's reporter Dani Cooper can only muster 236 words to cover the good news about Malaria as published in a peer reviewed journal, then gives almost 300 (298) to cover un-peer reviewed comments from a member of the team (Tony McMichael) that got it all so wrong! That's balance for ya. Roger Pielke Jnr's comments on McMichael's work on Malaria makes for interesting reading, strangely not covered by Dani Cooper: "It is not science. It might charitably be called educated guesswork or less charitably by a few other terms." Next time ABC strives for "balance" perhaps they'' find someone who's opinions don't amount to "educated guesswork".

ABC reply received 28/5/2010:Thank you for your email regarding the ABC Science story 'Climate change impact on malaria questioned'.Your concerns about this story have been investigated by Audience & Consumer Affairs. The story has been assessed against the applicable editorial standard, section 5.2.2(e) of the ABC's Editorial Policies (http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/edpols.htm), which states as follows."Be balanced. Balance will be sought but may not always be achieved within a single program or publication; it will be achieved as soon as reasonably practicable and in an appropriate manner. It is not essential to give all sides equal time. As far as possible, present principal relevant views on matters of importance."The story reported on Professor Tony McMichael's criticisms of the recent Nature study 'Climate change and the global malaria recession'. In addition to the providing the views of Professor McMichael, the story summarised the study's findings and included the views of two of its authors, Dr Pete Gething and Dr Simon Hay.While your references to the number of words in the story are noted, it is important to recognise that the editorial standard for balance does not require that an equal number of words be devoted to the views of each side in written stories. Instead, if possible, journalists are required to present the principal relevant views on matters of importance. In this case, the story presented the views of the authors of the study as well as the different views of a prominent Australian expert.On review, Audience & Consumer Affairs is satisfied that the story adhered to section 5.2.2(e) of the Editorial Policies. Nonetheless, please be assured that your comments have been noted and conveyed to relevant staff in ABC Innovation.I note your reference to a 2009 post on the blog 'Prometheus'. Audience & Consumer Affairs does not believe that criticism of Professor McMichael in a blog should preclude ABC journalists from reporting his expert views.I also note your query regarding balance in a several recent ABC Science, ABC Environment and ABC News articles. Should have specific concerns about the adherence of one or more of these articles with the ABC's editorial standards, please outline them in further detail and we will be happy to consider them.Thank you for taking the time to write.Yours sincerelyABC Audience & Consumer Affairs

" A review of the peer-edited literature reveals a systematic tendency of the climate establishment to engage in a variety of stylized rhetorical techniques that seem to oversell what is actually known about climate change while concealing fundamental uncertainties and open questions regarding many of the key processes involved in climate change. Fundamental open questions include not only the size but the direction of feedback effects that are responsible for the bulk of the temperature increase predicted to result from atmospheric greenhouse gas increases: while climate models all presume that such feedback effects are on balance strongly positive, more and more peer-edited scientific papers seem to suggest that feedback effects may be small or even negative. The cross-examination conducted in this paper reveals many additional areas where the peer-edited literature seems to conflict with the picture painted by establishment climate science, ranging from the magnitude of 20th century surface temperature increases and their relation to past temperatures; the possibility that inherent variability in the earth’s non-linear climate system, and not increases in CO2, may explain observed late 20th century warming; the ability of climate models to actually explain past temperatures; and, finally, substantial doubt about the methodological validity of models used to make highly publicized predictions of global warming impacts such as species loss. "

COMMENT: ABC miss reporting on a series of letters in the 21 May 2010 edition of Science covering debate over the cause of extinctions at the end of the Cretaceous that make for an interesting example of the way science is conducted. Was it mainly due to impact, or were other factors like voluminous volcanic eruptions at play? For those with subscription access it's compelling reading. For those without access it's a pity our ABC is focused on other things like this series of articles featured in ABC News on 12 April, 2010....

COMMENT: We concur with today's editorial in The Australian that captures much that is currently wrong with ABC's news service. ABC's pervasive Groupthink culture is another factor affecting the quality of ABC's news coverage, particularly on climate change which appears heavily biased by the opinions of ABC journalists.

Mark Scott must put news on top of the ABC agenda

It's time the national broadcaster started breaking stories

HERE'S an idea for ABC managing director Mark Scott as he talks up his soon-to-start 24-hour TV news channel: use it for news. Not commentary from ABC journalists who think their opinions on issues and events are news. Not recycled reports that have already appeared on the corporation's radio stations or web sites. Not lifestyle fluff or PR puff promoting ABC magazines or announcers' memoirs. Rather, the new station should live up to its name and run news.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Update-see replies belowOnce again ABC reporting serves as a publicity vehicle for a third party, this time the Climate Institute. ABC's report "Australia must do more to curb emissions: report" published online reads like a press release with Climate Institute chief executive John Connor given Carte Blanche to spruik the reports findings. Did Auntie's journalists consider asking a question? Perhaps one concerning the scientific basis for urgent action, especially given the implications of recent scientific results?
The report was produced by Bloomberg New Energy Finance here's a photo of one of the report authors, Seb Henbest, along side ABC's Tony Jones at Carbon Expo 2009 "Australasia’s premier Trade Fair & Carbon Conference". We wonder who was paying Tony's salary for acting as a moderator at the event, and does this conflict with his role as a journalist?

Update: the following from ABC Audience and Consumer Affairs 20 July

Thank you for your email of 25 May concerning the ABC News Online article "Australia
must do more to curb emissions: report", published the previous day. Please accept my
apologies for the delay in responding.

In keeping with ABC complaint handling procedures, your concerns have been investigated
by Audience and Consumer Affairs, a unit separate to and independent from ABC program
areas. In light of your concerns, we have assessed the article against the ABC's
editorial requirements for impartiality and balance in news and current affairs content,
as outlined in section 5.2.2(d) and (e) of the ABC's Editorial Policies:http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/edpols.htm. In the interests of procedural fairness, we
have also sought and considered material from ABC News.

On review, Audience and Consumer Affairs believe the story was newsworthy and
contributed to the range of perspectives on the subject presented by ABC News Online
over time. Accordingly, while noting your concerns, we are satisfied that the article
was in keeping with the ABC's editorial requirements for impartiality and balance in
news and current affairs content. Nonetheless, please be assured that your comments have
been conveyed to the editors of ABC News Online.

Thankyou for your reply. Please also weigh against 5.2.2 (f) Be questioning. Serve the
public interest by investigating issues affectingsociety and individuals.

We feel ABC News were not questioning in this case and as such this story lacked
journalistic integrity.

Update reply from ABC below, received 3 August

Thank you for your email of 20 July.
In light of your further concerns, we have assessed the ABC News Online article "Australia must do more to curb emissions: report", published on 24 May, against provision 5.2.2(f) of the ABC's Editorial Policies.
As noted in my previous response, the story is a straightforward news report which covered the release of a new report by The Climate Institute. The ongoing debates around policy responses to carbon pollution and renewable energies are clearly matters of public interest and issues affecting society and individuals. Accordingly, on review, Audience and Consumer Affairs are satisfied the story was in keeping with section 5.2.2(f) of the ABC's Editorial Policies.
In any event, please be assured that your further comments have been noted and conveyed to ABC News management.
Thank you again for taking the time to write, and for your interest in the ABC.

Looking over ABC's missing news stories we are reminded of what George Orwell said..."Omission is the most powerful form of a lie"

Earlier this month we noticed ABC failed to provide any news coverage of a peer reviewed study by Spencer and Braswell published in the Journal of Geophysical Research. The study (titled "On the Diagnosis of Radiative Feedback in the Presence of Unknown Radiative Forcing") suggests the IPCC have significantly over estimated climate sensitivity to increases in carbon dioxide and, if correct, it would indicate an end to the current alarm over man made global warming so heavily promoted by the ABC. Seems like important news? It did to us.

However in reply to our complaint (provided below) ABC's news editors apparently didn't feel this story worth their time, instead on the day Dr Spencer's paper was accepted by the Journal of Geophysical Research ABC felt that the following stories were more worthwhile:

These "newsworthy" stories brought to you with the aid of your tax dollars by ABC News editorial managers, based on their "considerable editorial experience". A taste perhaps of the sort of stories ABC's 24 hour news service will run for 24 hours a day. Sad thing is that ABC had the scoop some 12 months ago in an interview conducted with Roy Spencer that was left on the drawing board, all that editorial experience and not one news hound to be found.

Received 24 May 2010

Thank you for your email.
As previously advised, Section 5.2.2(d) of the ABC Editorial Policies states that editorial judgements are based on news values. What is, or is not, considered newsworthy is a decision made at the discretion of ABC News editorial managers, based on their considerable editorial experience and the news agenda of the day. ABC News editorial managers will continue to assess stories on climate science on their merits.
You may be interested in this recent interview with Dr Roy Spencer:http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2009/05/climate-chang-1.html

Please be assured that your news suggestion has been noted and conveyed to our program areas. The ABC Editorial Policies are available online at the attached link; http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/edpols.htm

Monday, May 24, 2010

ABC miss the scoop for the poop.ABC miss a world exclusive by not following up on observations made by Dr Roy Spencer in this interview conducted by ABC's Karyn Wood just over a year ago. If Spencer is correct then according to Andy Pitman he is owed a Nobel Prize for "that paper that buries global warming", but you wont hear anymore about it on Auntie.While ABC Science may have missed a Nobel Prize winner they make up for it with this scoop on missing mammoth poop. Debunked in 10...9...8...

What was reported: ABC reporter Simon Santo reported that the NGO "Make Poverty History" was calling on the Federal Government to work with other rich OECD governments to establish immigration quotas for climate refugees.The report indicated that small island nations such as Kiribati and Tuvalu are slowly sinking as seas begin to rise.

The Complaint: Details of the complaint are not listed.

ABC Audience and Consumer Affairs response: ABC posted this correction on the 9/9/2008, almost 2 months after the original story was put to air. HERE scroll down to 9/9/2008

On July 14, 2008 , the AM radio current affairs program broadcast a story about rising sea levels in the South Pacific, and calls by aid groups for Australia to do more to assist Pacific island nations. The opening line of the story should have attributed a statement about the sinking of the islands to the organisation making the claim, Make Poverty History. The transcript of this story has since been amended.

The following editors note was added to the story:EDITOR'S NOTE: The opening line of this story should have attributed a statement about the sinking of the islands to the organisation making the claim, Make Poverty History.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

COMMENT: Here's a line from ABC's most recent effort covering the coal carrier Shen Neng 1 that raised a smile: Shen Neng 1 Sets Sail"The damaged Chinese coal carrier Shen Neng 1 anchored off Hervey Bay has set sail for Gladstone in central Queensland...Yesterday, the last of the 19,000 tonnes of coal to be unloaded was removed, and the ship has now set sail to await a deep-sea tug.Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) says it is expected to arrive off the Gladstone coast on Sunday morning."

All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by. Weigh the anchor, splice the mainbrace and hoist the mizzen. We're on our way home lads....aye aye capt'n.
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